After eating what was on the plate he grabbed his kill from nearby and left it there. This is much more convenient than dodging traps and people all night. At first the cub was skeptical about the plate of food, and still was, but so far no one had been watching it at all. He never let his guard down but knew that this was the best situation he could hope for right now.

At first he resisted the cooked food only watching the boy’s family after he fell to the ground. That fateful day someone left a half-eaten cooked chicken outside that did him in. Ill just make sure I leave more than I take.

DON’T YOU DARE JUDGE ME. Have you eaten raw chicken or squirl? BARF. Only after being given no option but to eat those things did I eat them to begin with. Now I have an option and I’m paying for it… Kinda.

I chose houses that started cooking early because it meant that they would be most likely have less people in it because they would be working doing chores or foraging. I would sneak in through a window and judge what they were cooking. When they weren’t looking I would move a cooking utensil further away or hide it. While their back was turned, I would grab and hop back in to hiding or out the window and be gone.

I know it wasn’t nice but raw meat really does suck. I felt really bad the night they started putting up traps to catch me. I was hidden in the roof eating my prize only to hear the woman below me start crying. Looking at the roast I had taken, almost in disgust with myself, I decided to make it up to her. I spent the entire night out hunting the best wild spring flowers I could find. The boar was a little trickier.

I found the trap they made. It was like a kind of snare. I didn’t really want to break it so after looking it over I broke only one part to stop it from working or being set off. I had already tested the grass route I was going to use from the forest. It wasn’t far. Using the boy’s family fence I could make it to their roof. From there, I basically had access to all the other roofs of the village.

I carried the boar along the fence and only fell once. It helped it was a smaller boar. Finding a large one was easy but I wouldn’t be able to carry it. From there it was just hop to the next roof and I got as low as I could without marking up too much. I dropped it on the snare hoping this would be the end of traps.

Of course, I was wrong. My actions seemed to be a challenge to every hunter or tracker in the village. Ugh. The first week was a little fun and I got cocky. I snuck food out of one of the guard’s lap while he slept. Only waking up, once I dropped a little present on his head. Once one almost saw me on a roof during their “patrols”.

The second week was the worst. It seemed they went trap crazy. The village was covered in snares, footholds, small pit traps, and I think I saw a type of glue trap someone was working on with tree sap. At one point I had gotten frustrated and broke and disabled as many traps as I could find, only to find them re set up the next day. It was the end of the second week that I spotted the plate and naturally it screamed trap. Only after judging it was safe did I touch it.

I decided if someone was going to feed me, I would pay them with what I could. I knew this woman was the village herbalist. So I knew two things from my previous life. One, never earn a women scorn (pretty sure making this ladies friend cry made me a failure on this count.) The second poison is a women’s weapon.

It happens on the tenth or eleventh day she had set food out. Something didn’t smell right about the food. Like the mushroom patch mother kept us away from. Almost laughing to myself I left the plate alone and waited in the lower branches in a nearby tree and waited to see. The next morning she came out with a haughty smile until she saw the food sitting there untouched. I didn’t need the little stomp of her foot to tell me I was right.

I jumped down from the tree and started walking toward their house so proud of myself.

“KITTY!!!” **WHAM**

Have you ever been hit by a car. To me this was a lot like that. This was my third time having my dome rattled in this world and I can’t say which of the three hurt worse. I had avoided hunters, traps of all sizes, trackers, and poison. Leave your front door open and let out your freshly potty trained 3 year old and I’m caught in ten seconds.

I was crushed to the ground and the wind knocked out of me. I think I lost consciousness. Next thing I knew was I was being hug carried into the boy’s house. I refused to hurt this child and no matter how hard I struggled she had me tight. The heck you evil pigtailed sprite. What were you, a vice grip in another life?

“Momma look a pretty kitty”

Upon seeing me the room went deathly silent. The Grandfather eyes went as big a saucers (to be fair so did everyone else’s). He looked like he wanted to laugh or cry and only the next few moments would decide which.

The mother went white as a sheet and grabbed her husband. She practically shoved him toward me and the girl. The dad looked like he was torn between wanting to grab his family and run or kill me.

The Boy was different than everyone he was surprised but no fear was evident on his face.

In the most calm voice the man had probably ever made he spoke to the girl, “everyone stay calm no quick movements. Linny, sweety, can you please put the kitty down.”

My one and only mew came out as I tried to communicate these thoughts. Yes please piggy tailed pixy vice grip from another world.

Yeah, no such luck. “NO MY KITTY” she turned and bolted for the door.

Fortunately, the dad got to her first before I went on a tour of the town with my new friend. He kicked the door shut and grabbed her at the same time. Forcing her to let me go.

I hit the floor and everyone backed away slowly. In case you’re wondering whether the whole talking cat thing on a teenage witch show was real or not. Its total crap. I tried forming word before this and yeeeaaahhh you need lips that have a lot of control to form intelligible words.

Not quite knowing what to do here I sat on the ground staring at them as they stared at me. The dad had shut the door blocking his daughter from leaving with me and there were two windows. Unfortunately for me both were shut and locked.

“SHOO g-g-go home” Teela was the first to speak.

I gave her my best deadpan stare and then looked at the door. I might have thrown in a light mew showing my unamused attitude. Looking at the door seemed to work cause like a bunch of prairie dogs they looked at it all at once.

“oh” said the mother.

With a sharp nudge from his wife Daton carefully edged toward the door. Just as he reached it someone else found their voice.

“Dad wait.”

After nearly jumping out of his skin he turned to Ethan “what why?!”

“It won’t harm us and I want to see something.”

I stared at him. Why are you always the troublemaker? I thought to himself.

“Son now is not the time for this. You know what this is and what its capable of probably better than anyone in this room.” He got to the door and opened it.

Maybe this is for the best. I took one look out the front door. Standing up I walked over to the boy and sat down in front of him. I felt something in the boy and in two other people in the room. It felt almost like talking to my family.

*What do you want to know*. The jaw drop was all I needed to know that he could in fact hear me.

After a couple of minutes of awkward silence and shuffling, the older woman who I learned was Teela took Linny into their room. All the while her crying about not getting her kitty. The other three sat around the table. Looking at me. I felt like I was having an intervention.

“Can I ask what your name is”

*you can, but I honestly don’t have one so I can’t give it to you. * Since waking up here I hadn’t been able to recall my own name all I knew was about my past life but that small bit seemed to elude me.

Only the boy nodded.

Looking at the other I asked, *can these two hear me*

Daton seemed to come out of a stupor and finally spoke up, “I can, just barely though. Father?”

“what?” The old man asked.

“can you hear him” Daton asked a little annoyed at the lack of attention his father was showing to the conversation.

The old man looked confused for a moment, then replied “N-no I haven’t heard anything except what you are saying to it”

*I’m a him* I said, annoyed at being referred to as an “it”…. Like I didn’t know what they were saying.

“Sorry about that. Grandpa, it’s a he.” Ethan said, correcting his grandfather.

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

Looking at me for a moment I looked back and nodded once.

“HAHAHAHA it really is talking to you guys this is amazing!” the Grandfather exclaimed, the joy practically seeping out of him.

I glared him.

“Grandpa, please stop calling him an “IT”” Ethan told his grandfather. At least someone is coming to my rescue here.

“what? Oh! Oh yeah, sorry about that.” The Grandfather had a sheepish expression on now like he just got caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

I was still annoyed but the situation being what it was I couldn’t really fault the guy. I just sat there watching them.

*why cant he hear me* I reaching out for the man’s consciousness like the others but couldn’t feel it. I could sense his life force but that was all.

“I’m not for sure about this but it seems to have to do with magic.” Daton was the one to put forth his hypothesis. “Ethan how well can you hear him?”

“I can hear him just fine. He is as loud as you are.” His reply seemed to bother his father.

“I have little talent for magic and Garth I seem to remember you saying you never had it in you other than small traces.”

“that’s right. I was tested when I was about 12 years old.” Garth stated.

“Then I’m betting that’s why he cant hear and why I can. As for you son we were are going to have you tested around the same time but I’d wage you have a large talent for it.” Daton seemed sure of his answer.

*Sounds good to me.* the Cub replied.

Looking a little uncomfortable he asked, “I hate to be presumptuous here, but are you the one that’s been pilfering the food?”

*Yes* I didn’t see any reason to hide it. *Did you know your wife has been feeding me*?

“Yes except last night you didn’t eat she was more than a little mad this morning about it.”

*I suspected she poisoned it, so I didn’t eat it*.

“oh” Daton and Ethan seemed to go a little paler.

*I don’t hold a grudge. I figured she would eventually, given the circumstances*.

“what’s going on? Was there something wrong with the food?” the Grandpa asked.

Ethan explained. Then I got to watch the remaining man get a uncomfortable look on his face.

Ethan was the next one to question something though. “Why don’t you just eat the stuff you catch?” All three sets of eyes locked on to me.

I knew this was going to be asked. Now I’m going to look crazy. *Hold on* Leaping into their upper area I brought down a large rabbit and placed it in front of the boy. Going back to my place I looked at them all and said, *dig in while its still fresh*

The boy looked up to their upper area then down at the rabbit intently. I thought he might actually do it, but soon he looked back at me questioningly. Daton was obviously trying very hard not to laugh. He was losing miserably. When the Grandfather heard he was a little less tactful.

After they got him off the floor we continued to talk. This time the rude raisin spoke. “I like this forest Guardian a lot. Are all of your kind like you?”

Tilting my head in confusion *Guardian? Aren’t I a black tiger?*

“You are but because you guys don’t harm humans and hunt the forest we call your kind Guardians of Don’ Keal Forest.” Daton explained. “Where is your family? You cant be more than a year old if my estimate is correct.”

*My mother left into the woods when the dragon attacked your son. I followed your family back here after my father passed.*

“Dragon?” replied Ethan confused. “is that what Guardians call the leviathan”

Makes sense different places would call it different things. Dragon, Leviathan, or just snakes. *Yes this is what I would call that creature, but we can stick with yours since its easier for you.*

“do you plan on staying around here?” asked Daton. I hesitated for a moment. Then I had an idea.

Time for a little word trickery. *I have no intention in leaving the area and ask your leave to stay here*. Inwardly I smiled to myself at my word play.

Daton got a troubled look and looked at grandfather and told him what I said. “I don’t see that being to much of an issue as long as you stop stealing food from others.”

*That will be fine. I assumed staying here meant meals would be included. I can sleep in the that upper area or in a room. *

He stared at me a moment then realized what had just transpired. “oh you meant here as in here here…” Yup I left that door wide open and you walked right into it.

Now to play dumb. *Was that not what you were you agreeing to?* I tilted my head just to play it off. I felt a little bad for him but I did need to protect this kid.

Grabbing the back of his neck Daton gave an obvious uncomfortable laugh. “yeah haha, um just a moment” He stood and disappeared in to his room. We three could here talking but nothing distinct until one true clear female voice rang out. “do you mean already agreed.”

Ethan turned to his grandfather with an uncomfortable look on his face and spoke. “Grandfather. I think I’m just starting to realize how true your words were when you said smarter than us.”

Grandfather only nodded a few times.

Something seemed to tickle my mind and I image of being called fluffy or mittens flashed in my mind. It was weird because I couldn’t think of any names before but now the thought of the girls naming me made me want to shiver.

*If you would be so kind could you give me a name? Its looking like things are almost done here and I cant continue to be called Guardian. Preferably sooner rather than later before I am named something stupid like Mr. Whiskers or Fluffy.*

“umm, he says he wants me to give him a name” Ethan said as he looked at his grandfather.

“Might as well go ahead we need something to call him if he is going to be staying here.” Garth didn’t seem to care.

Ethan took a few while to ponder before finally replying “ok then your name will be Lan.”

Mauling it over for a bit. I liked it. *Agreed*

A pain shot through me at that moment causing me wince but as soon as it came it was gone. OW!!! What was that crap. Looking around no one was near me but the boy looked as though he had felt it as well.

Grandfather looked between Ethan and me. “Ethan come here a moment.”

Reaching out and pulling Ethan to him. He exposed his right arm. A perfect black ring went all the way around his bicep. The then pointed to my front right leg and as I looked down I saw a pure white ring around it that connected to one of my stipes. It was different white from my stripe so I noticed it, but I doubted others would.

“Grandpa what is that? what’s happening?” Ethan sounded worried.

Hearing a shuffle in the other room the old guy quickly pulled this sleeve back down and shoved him back into his chair. “later. We got no time for this now.”

Just as he finished speaking the door to his parents room opened and both his parents walked out. Teela holding Linny back. “if he is going to stay he needs a name. Since Linny found him she wanted fluffy and I think it’s a cute name.”

Garth looked from Teela to me and I think he was as scared as I was. “the longer this guardian is here the dumber I feel we are as humans.”

“What does that mean?” asked Teela.

“At the guardians request your son just named him Lan no more than a few moments ago. It would seem he didn’t trust you or your daughter to name him. Being you tried to poison him last night and her being three I don’t blame him.”

“I---” she started to say something but upon really digesting what was said she looked like she had just been hit with something. “I-- I can explain that.”

“No need mom he said it was fine earlier and that he had expected it.”

Looking at me with a look of bewilderment. She asked me directly “then why did you eat my food all this time?”

Looking her in the eyes and with Ethan relaying I said,*two reasons you’re a great cook (never hurts to butter the lady of the house up), and second better to tread the path you know has one trap you are looking for than the unknown path with 50 you aren’t expecting.” Take that Confucius.

I was beginning to think these people were part fish. The amount of mouths opening and closing was quite comical. I guess that’s why I didn’t notice two tiny hands reaching out and grabbing me in a tight hug. NOOOO.

~~

Lan was a little bigger than a large tom cat. He hadn’t seemed to grow much after the fourth or fifth month. A fact that had not been lost on him. Like the other tigers, his fur was black as a moonless night and the white stripes were a vivid contrast. His claws were thick and sharp as one would expect of a predator, but his eyes were the real showstopper. There was a depth to his ocean blue eyes that seemed to weigh on anyone it fell on.

Things soon settled down a bit after Lan’s arrival. Dayton forbid everyone to tell anyone about him. Not that anyone other than Linny was eager to show him off. She was constantly trying to find him in the house.

Later that night though Grandpa followed Ethan into his room just before bed. He Had signaled for Lan to follow. Getting settled on Ethan’s bed he turned to listen.

Garth started. “ I didn’t want your parents to know just yet in case they thought he had tricked you and judging by how he reacted I don’t think he expected that to happen either”

“Tricked me into what Grandpa? what exactly is this mark?” Ethan exposed his arm and the black ring encircling it.

“You two are bound as pack barer and familiar.”

Even though Lan had suspected that this was what had happened, he felt a little better hearing it from someone. He had really found his charge.

*what does this exactly mean to us?* Lan asked through Ethan. Garth looked a little uncomfortable but replied all the same.

“I honestly don’t know much, but I’ll tell you what I do know. As you grow people say you will get stronger as if you feed off each other’s strength. Most people earn a bond with wolves or other animals and get it through magic. This is the first time I’ve heard of it forming on its own. This is about all the information I know of.” Ethan thought only for a moment before asking something.

“is there any where you know where we can get more information?”

“there is a place I know where it is more common, whether or not they have more information on it is just hear say. The only way you will get that information though is by winning the Guardian selection.” Lan was confused. Thinking that this was some kind of hunters show for capturing tigers?

*the king has tigers?* Ethan laughed a little at the thought as did his grandfather.

Grandfather explained, “every year at the end of spring there is a competition for the strongest 10 year old. The strongest three and in some unique cases a fourth is selected to be trained by the kings elite called the Guardians. They have numerous individuals in their group that have familiars.”

“I remember it from before we left. The crowd was huge and the boys were climbing walls, racing, and fighting.” Ethan had a dazed far off look as he said this.

“those are just the ones the king makes a show of. There is archery, hand to hand combat, speed and endurance. once that is all over there is at least one other that goes on behind the scene and that’s magical affinity. Oh, and the secret test but that is only a rumor. A secret test that only the elites know of.”

Sounds like a lot of work for some information we might get for free. Though this might be our best information within 100 miles. I think I remember that angel saying something about this world being extremely large. With these thoughts in mind Lan was about to speak just as Ethan did.

“I had always wondered what it would be like to be in that competition. I just always thought Mother would skin me alive if I ever thought of doing something so dangerous. Now I have an excuse to join.” The look on his face said it all. It was the same look that made it clear he wanted nothing more than this.

Ahhh, I almost forgot I was dealing with Mr. let’s kill a dragon with a butter knife. Lan inwardly sighed to himself. I have been given the gift of youth and he has never lived like me. I shouldn’t dampen his dreams just because I am (literally) an old soul.

Grandfather took Lan’s silence and Ethan’s enthusiasm as this was the plan they wanted to work toward. “You need to work hard, both of you in this. Lan, you seem smart and I’m sure you can handle yourself but the bond I think works best if both of you grow in strength. Ethan you need to work harder than you ever have in your life. The other kids aren’t just going to let you walk in there and take the prize.” Lan looked in Ethan’s eyes and he could almost see the fire in them to prove himself.

“I will work hard Grampa don’t worry I’ll be selected.” There was nothing but confidence in Ethan’s voice.

Lan stayed silent but nodded.

After Grandfather left Lan took his turn with talking to Ethan.

*this is the path you want for yourself?*

“yes I want to compete, why?” Ethan was confused because he thought they were both in on this.

Lan hopped on to the nightstand and looked Ethan in the eyes. There was a weight and intensity to that emerald green stare that gave Ethan pause.

*We are bonded and I don’t take that lightly.* Lan didn’t want him to know everything just yet not till he could handle knowing everything. *This bond means where you go, I go. You are no longer you and I am no longer I. We are us now.*

Ethan thought about this and realized the truth behind those words. He had agreed to this competition without asking Lan anything about it. They were bonded.

“I’m sorry Lan, I didn’t mean to force you into this.”

Lan knew this kid was taking his words the wrong way, but he liked the fact he was thinking about him in this. Ah the conversations I get to have with a seven year old. Though to be fair he seems to be more mature than most of the kids from my world. Maybe there is some truth behind the saying it takes a village… *I don’t mean the Competition that is small compared to the big picture. I’m just saying we are together for life at least that’s what I think this bond means. From now on you have to have my back and I will have yours.*

Ethan liked the sound of that and he nodded. “okay”

*Now since we are doing this I will help you train. From now till the competition if you slack off ill bite you do you understand* Ethan laughed a little, but when he turned back and Lan hadn’t moved. Then he felt, something inside him that said he was serious.

Ethan’s eyes went wide “guardians don’t hurt people.”

*do you really want to test me to find out if your right?* That serious feeling seemed to almost overwhelm Ethan. That coupled with the look in Lan’s eyes said everything Ethan needed to know.

Shaking his head he said “no ill work hard I promise”

*Now get some sleep we will be up early.*

Settling down at the foot of Ethans bed Lan was soon asleep. Ethan was feeling a bit restless excited about the prospect of competing in the Guardian selection.